Cron & Scheduled Tasks Setup

WordPress by default uses “WP-Cron”, a virtual pseudo-cron that only triggers when someone visits your website. If traffic is low or pages are aggressively cached, scheduled tasks (such as countdown closings and ticket hold releases) may be delayed.

Recommended: Disable WP-Cron & Configure Server Crontab

Step 1: Disable Default WP-Cron

Add this line to your wp-config.php file, just before /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */:

define( 'DISABLE_WP_CRON', true );

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Step 2: Add Real Server Cron (Every Minute)

Log into your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, Cloudways, CyberPanel) or connect via SSH, and add a cron job running every 1 minute:

Option A: Using wget (Standard)

* * * * * wget -q -O - https://yourdomain.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron >/dev/null 2>&1

Option B: Using curl

* * * * * curl -s https://yourdomain.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron >/dev/null 2>&1

Option C: Using WP-CLI (Fastest & Most Reliable)

* * * * * /usr/local/bin/wp cron event run --due-now --path=/var/www/html >/dev/null 2>&1

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Option D: Third-Party Webcron (EasyCron / Cron-Job.org)

If your shared hosting provider does not provide access to crontab or SSH:

1. Sign up for an external webcron service such as EasyCron or cron-job.org.
2. Create a new cron job with the URL:

   https://yourdomain.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron

3. Set the execution interval to Every 1 minute (or every 5 minutes depending on your plan).
4. Set HTTP Method to GET.

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Direct Plugin Cron Endpoints (Recommended)

In addition to the standard WordPress cron, Quantum Competitions provides two dedicated direct endpoints that bypass pseudo-cron scheduling entirely for sub-minute accuracy:

1. Finished Competition Checker (?competition-cron=check)

Executes simple_lottery_cron() to evaluate closing dates and draw winners:

* * * * * wget -q -O - "https://yourdomain.com/?competition-cron=check" >/dev/null 2>&1

• Internal Loop: Runs 3 cycles per execution with 20-second sleep intervals, ensuring closing accuracy within 20 seconds.
• Auto-Dismiss: Pinging this URL automatically clears the admin dashboard setup warning.

2. Automated Relister (?competition-relist=true)

Executes qcw_pn_cron() to republish expired competitions configured with automatic relisting:

0 * * * * wget -q -O - "https://yourdomain.com/?competition-relist=true" >/dev/null 2>&1

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Verifying Cron Status

Navigate to Competitions > Settings > Tools to view the status of registered cron events:

• qcw_check_ended_competitions: Scans for competitions whose end date has passed.
• qcw_cleanup_cart_reservations: Releases unpurchased ticket reservations whose hold time expired.
• In WP Admin header notices, check whether the cron notice has cleared.